7.7 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.3 |
“Movies. Now more than ever!” That’s the motto of the movie studio where fast-tracking exec Griffin Bell works. But rumor has it a power play could push Bell out. And a rejected writer who’s sending anonymous death threats could push him under.
Starring: Tim Robbins, Greta Scacchi, Fred Ward, Whoopi Goldberg, Peter GallagherDrama | 100% |
Romance | 17% |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Crime | Insignificant |
Mystery | Insignificant |
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French (Canada): Dolby Digital 2.0
English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 3.0 | |
Audio | 2.5 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Long before there was Entourage, there was The Player, award-winning filmmaker Robert Altman's sure-footed satire of two very different Hollywoods: one bolstered by innovation, creativity and artistic integrity, and another driven by cutthroats and fueled by the Almighty Dollar. It's a disarming stab at Tinseltown and its power players that, even after eighteen years and countless peeks behind the industry curtain, sports a sharp overbite. Ironic then, isn't it, that Warner Brothers, a studio that left a notoriously foul taste in Altman's mouth in the '70s and '80s, is now responsible for distributing his pointed critique of the studio system. Chalk it up to trickle-down rights ownership -- Fine Line Features to New Line Cinema to Warner Brothers -- or the changing of the Hollywood guard over the last two decades. Regardless of the cause, it's nice to know artistic integrity, no matter its target, still trumps the Almighty Dollar every now and then.
Producer Griffin Mill ponders his fate and, more to the point, his career...
While it showcases every one of the film's eighteen years, the Blu-ray edition of The Player eek by, if for no other reason than its plucked-from-the-vine 1080p/VC-1 transfer delivers a fairly faithful presentation. Jean Lépine's evocative photography is soft and diffuse, hazy even at times. His sun-bleached exteriors, drably lit interiors and smoky LA nights allow Altman's film to appear, at least initially, decidedly un-Hollywood, and Warner's encode reflects his intentions. Primaries don't exactly pop, shadows are staunch and unforgiving, and fleshtones trail behind accordingly, but I didn't expect anything more. Likewise, detail is frequently chained to Lépine and Altman's vision, and fine texture clarity and edge definition follow suit. That's not to say everything is as it should be though. Minted from an older master, The Player struggles with a variety of issues including unsightly crush, mediocre delineation, minor ringing, telecine wobble, spiking noise, and a small smattering of waxy closeups. Print blemishes are present throughout as well, and eagle-eyed videophiles will even notice brief bursts of artifacting. No one thing spoils the experience entirely, but it all adds up to a somewhat unremarkable catalog presentation.
The Player's unreliable DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track is more difficult to enjoy, even though many of its problems trace back to Altman's style. Thin, flat and front-heavy, the whole of the mix is rather two-dimensional, despite the fact that Thomas Newman's score and several late-game elements make good use of the rear speakers. Dialogue, a crucial aspect of any Altman film, is all over the place, ranging from crisp-and-clear to hollow-and-tinny to shallow-and-swampy, sometimes within the span of a single sequence. Hiss, air noise and environmental ambience take their toll as well (albeit more by intention than anything else). Worse, LFE output is often either weak and anemic or dull and cumbersome; the soundfield seems chained to the center speaker; and separation and directionality are merely adequate. Nothing about the track suggests it's received a proper overhaul, and its lone selling point is that it represents a marked improvement over the 1997 DVD's murky mix.
The Player slithers onto Blu-ray with a decent lineup of special features, all ported from the 1997 Platinum Series DVD release. First and foremost is a densely packed "Audio Commentary" courtesy of director Robert Altman and co-producer/writer Michael Tolkien. The pair succinctly discuss every shot, scene, cameo and performance, delving into the realities of Hollywood, the various tricks of the trade, Tolkien's original novel, the development of his screenplay, casting, Altman's approach to the material and much, much more. Their commentary is effortless, and yet terribly satisfying. The disc's supplemental package also includes a rather dated EPK -- the aptly named "One on One with Robert Altman" (SD, 17 minutes) -- five unfinished "Deleted Scenes" (SD, 14 minutes) and the film's fantastic "Theatrical Trailer" (SD, 2 minutes).
The Player may not be aging as gracefully as its stars, but it still pairs a shrewd industry satire with a tantalizing mystery. Unfortunately, its Blu-ray release wouldn't make it past Griffin Mill's secretary. Its video transfer elicits a shoulder-shrug, its DTS-HD Master Audio track disappoints, and its supplemental package, while appreciated, doesn't offer anything new. Its AV presentation trounces its dated DVD counterpart though, so whip out those wallets accordingly.
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